Krutika & Dev’s Story

Husband and wife team, Dev and Krutika, purchased a Rainbow International franchise in 2015. As they reflect on their journey so far, we learn about what attracted them to franchising, and what it’s like being in business together.

“As a young couple looking to start a business, Dev and I were instantly drawn to franchising. We wanted a venture that would grow with our ambitions, but with the support mechanisms in place to guide us through our first forays into business.

Neither of us had a background in cleaning and restoration; at the time, Dev was supporting his family’s restaurant and property portfolio, while I was an interior designer. Rainbow appealed to us as they made it clear that it wasn’t compulsory to have any industry experience, indicating support must be in place for franchisees.

We heard about a resale opportunity in Edinburgh from another Rainbow owner, and in 2015 purchased the franchise branch. It took a little while to get up and running initially – renewing leases and finding our feet – but we soon found ourselves on a steady path to success.

A day in the lives of Krutika & Dev

The previous franchise owner relied heavily on centrally sourced insurance contracts, so we were keen to tap into new opportunities and diversify the business through self-generated work. Over the past couple of years, we’ve invested a lot of time into networking and meeting local businesses to grow the franchise branch.

We now work with housing associations, loss adjusters, facilities management and education, meaning that every day presents a new challenge. As a result, we’ve grown the team from 5 to 8 people, taking on BDMA qualified technicians. We’re also in the process of moving into a new 5,000 sq ft premises – double the size of our current site.

What’s great about running the business together is that we can focus on our strengths; I tend to focus on accounts and HR, while Dev spends most of his time overseeing the day-to-day operations and business growth. Communication and trust are key, but as a husband and wife team that comes naturally to us.

Despite coming into the business with no prior experience, we’ve found that the work has come quite naturally. Rainbow told us from the start that ‘no question is a silly question,’ so if we do need support, they’re always just a phone call away. We also have a very strong peer-to-peer network – we regularly meet with other franchisees in the area.

It’s been an amazing journey running a franchise alongside my husband so far. As long as you have the passion to look after people and ensure that their home becomes their home again, you’ll succeed. That’s just instinct.”